Saturday, May 26, 2018

A movement began to repeal the tax by referendum and a petition to do so quickly amassed far more than the needed number of signatures. Now, a new poll indicates that support for the repeal measure has reached majority numbers. But there’s more going on here than just the removal of a set of taxes and fees. (LA Times)

...The economy in California works out fabulously for celebrities and the mega-wealthy. But for most rank and file workers, it’s virtually impossible to afford a house anywhere in the state that’s even marginally habitable. Businesses and workers are already fleeing the state in the more expensive areas, yet residents still seem to be fine with the idea of taxing “somebody else” as long as their gas prices don’t go up further....

Another must read from @KimStrassel: The real constitutional crisis is claim by a subdivision of Article II executive branch that it is not obliged 2 submit 2 oversight of Article I, and indeed has authority separate from the president’s. Radical claims. https://t.co/QLt2GAtSW7

Democrats and their media allies are again shouting “constitutional crisis,” this time claiming President Trump has waded too far into the Russia investigation. The howls are a diversion from the actual crisis: the Justice Department’s unprecedented contempt for duly elected representatives, and the lasting harm it is doing to law enforcement and to the department’s relationship with Congress.

The conceit of those claiming Mr. Trump has crossed some line in ordering the Justice Department to comply with oversight is that “investigators” are beyond question. We are meant to take them at their word that they did everything appropriately. Never mind that the revelations of warrants and spies and dirty dossiers and biased text messages already show otherwise.

We are told that Mr. Trump cannot be allowed to have any say over the Justice Department’s actions, since this might make him privy to sensitive details about an investigation into himself. We are also told that Congress—a separate branch of government, a primary duty of which is oversight—cannot be allowed to access Justice Department material. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes can’t be trusted to view classified information—something every intelligence chairman has done—since he might blow a source or method, or tip off the president.

That’s a political judgment, but it holds no authority. The Constitution set up Congress to act as a check on the executive branch—and it’s got more than enough cause to do some checking here. Yet the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation have spent a year disrespecting Congress—flouting subpoenas, ignoring requests, hiding witnesses, blacking out information, and leaking accusations.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has not been allowed to question a single current or former Justice or FBI official involved in this affair. Not one....

This Clapper et al line that purpose of spy was to monitor Russians, not campaign, is a joke. Did FBi task a spy to the Clinton campaign too? How about we insert one this year in every midterm campaign—just in case? Anything to watch those Russians, right?

Thought you’d say that. Anytime anyone criticizes the media, the media shrieks “You’re just like Trump!” Why do you think he got elected in the first place? Because no ones believes you any more. You lost your credibility a long time ago.

Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Britt Slabinski, U.S. Navy, Retired, represents the best of America. He risked his life in Afghanistan as he led his team on a rescue mission on a 10,000-foot mountain through arduous conditions. Take a moment to hear his story: pic.twitter.com/E98m7Lsq40

I have decided to terminate the planned Summit in Singapore on June 12th. While many things can happen and a great opportunity lies ahead potentially, I believe that this is a tremendous setback for North Korea and indeed a setback for the world... pic.twitter.com/jT0GfxT0Lc

The claims of what would amount to mass surveillance are part of a lawsuit brought against the company by the former startup Six4Three, listed in legal documents filed at the superior court in San Mateo as part of a court case that has been ongoing for more than two years.

One year later, @JillianKayM talks to an Evergreen student who was assaulted by protesters, an alum who advised his sister against attending, and a couple of former faculty who think that maybe, just maybe, the “social justice” agenda will not end well.https://t.co/eW7eVrIWgH

For the first time since Roe v. Wade, America has a Pro-Life President, a Pro-Life Vice President, a Pro-Life House of Representatives and 25 Pro-Life Republican State Capitals! pic.twitter.com/EfF54tmetT

Many liberals and critics are under the mistaken belief that President Trump is violating the rule of law and civil liberties by criticizing the Robert Mueller investigation and by ordering the Justice Department’s Inspector General to investigate whether or not the FBI spied on his 2016 presidential campaign. In fact, the president is behaving totally lawfully, and it is Robert Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein who are acting unconstitutionally and who are violating Trump’s civil liberties....

The unconstitutionality of Mueller’s appointment renders everything he has done since May 17, 2017, unconstitutional as well. This includes obtaining a log of calls by President Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen, and his referral of Cohen to the United States attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York. Both the logging and the referral are examples of what the Supreme Court calls the fruit of a poisonous tree.

When an official uses government power in an unconstitutional way, anything that results from it is subject to the exclusionary rule and is not admissible in court. Since the investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York was started due to an arguably unconstitutional call log that violates both the Appointments Clause and attorney-client privilege, the federal courts should hold that any prosecutions that result of Cohen or anyone else that grew out of the Mueller referral are unconstitutional and null and void.....

All that talk of a Democratic blue wave sweeping congressional races in California could be for naught if a new poll is on target: It shows President Trump’s approval rating surging to 50 percent in Orange County, site of four tight races that could determine if Republicans hold the House.

A more popular Trump is bad news for Democrats, who are trying to grab seven GOP-held congressional districts statewide that Hillary Clinton won in 2016, including the four in Orange County. That would give Democrats a big jump on their goal of flipping 23 seats nationally to regain the House.

As voters fill out their mail-in ballots and carefully consider their votes, I am confident they will agree with @ReaganWorld and the @CAGOP that our only chance of making California safe again is by electing me to the office of Attorney General #caaghttps://t.co/SR45BVUJQr

For the week ending May 20, Republicans are at 40.7 percent while Democrats have slipped down to 34.5 percent. The survey was of 1,139 respondents and is the first time in the 2018 cycle, dating back to the end of May last year, that Republicans have taken a lead ahead of Democrats in the Reuters tracking poll.

“The Iranian wave of destruction in the region in just the last few years,” Pompeo said, “is proof that Iran’s nuclear aspirations cannot be separated from the overall security picture.” He’s right. https://t.co/ejKozP3ORk

Democratic primary in #KY06 had been mostly positive until Lexington Mayor Jim Gray launched an ad criticizing Marine vet Amy McGrath about recently moving to the district. McGrath says she was off serving her country. https://t.co/3tDvhvjnet

On #TrumpKimSummit@realDonaldTrump "There are certain conditions that we want and I think we'll get those conditions and if we don't, we don't have the meeting...If it doesn't happen, maybe it'll happen later. Maybe it will happen at a different time."

Q to @realDonaldTrump abt #KimJongUn "Will you guarantee the safety of the NK regime?" - "I will guarantee his safety, yes. We will guarantee his safety. And we've talked about that from the beginning. He will be safe, he will be happy, his country will be rich." #TrumpKimSummit

A century ago, no matter how rich you were, you wouldn't be able to enjoy air conditioning, TV, smart phones, Internet, timely transportation, contact lenses, international food, antibiotics, effective dental care, or a high likelihood of surviving infancy https://t.co/cEGldpaGVQ

The Damas de Blanco/Ladies in White gathered in Havana to celebrate receiving the #FriedmanPrize. Too bad the Cuban regime wouldn't let them come to NYC to receive it in person. pic.twitter.com/UUEhFzXuIx

“If the accusations turn out to be true about this asset … this will be the first time ever in American history that one admin put covert assets for political purposes into the other party’s campaign to undermine, and potentially frame, the candidate of that party.” -@SebGorkapic.twitter.com/ykGpY0zYtg

The measure struck down 2013 guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau informing financial firms they would be held liable for fair lending laws if they arrange financing with auto dealers. The Obama administration presented the rule as necessary for counteracting discrimination.

Congress’ use of the Congressional Review Act to cancel the guidance is unprecedented, given that it was informal guidance and not an official agency rule....

Republican chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Jeb Hensarling commended the decision after attending the closed-door ceremony.

“Gone are the days of a rogue Bureau using its unchecked powers to sidestep due process and harm the very consumers it is charged with protecting,” he said in a statement.

"The only way to bring down prices is to build more housing. But you can't do that with rent controls, mandatory solar panels, strict zoning limits, ridiculously high taxes and absurd environmental restrictions." https://t.co/6aCvOJ93hR#CAPolitics#rentcontrol

Home prices in California are sky-high and our political leaders mouth platitudes about the “housing crisis.” So what’s their answer? Adding $10,000 to $30,000 to the cost of all new homes in California whether homebuyers want solar panels or not. https://t.co/5kHXs5DOmt

...Halper's contracts were funded through four annual awards paid directly out of the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment (ONA). Established as the DoD's "internal think tank" in 1973 by Richard Nixon (whose administration Halper worked for), the ONA was run by foreign policy strategist Andrew Marshall from its inception until his 2015 retirement at the age of 93, after which he was succeeded by current director James H. Baker.... Halper's most recent award was noted recently by Trump supporter Jacob Wohl, which piqued the interest of internet researchers who continued the analysis....

The most recent award to Halper for $411,575 was made in two payments, and had a start date of September 26, 2016 - three days after a September 23 Yahoo! News article by Michael Isikoff about Trump aide Carter Page, which used information fed to Isikoff by "pissgate" dossier creator Christopher Steele. The FBI would use the Yahoo! article along with the unverified "pissgate" dossier as supporting evidence in an FISA warrant application for Page. ...

It sure is weird that a campaign with no candidate and no election paid so much money in 2016 to the law firm that funneled cash to Fusion GPS to hire foreign spies to attack Trump. https://t.co/pmCKNVE281

"Let’s be clear, The DOJ and FBI, under Barack Obama, investigated and spied on the Trump presidential campaign complete with wiretaps, informants and moles. They also concealed the activities from congressional oversight for months." @LarryOConnorhttps://t.co/UXN3JMqAWI

.@SharylAttkisson You are missing Michael Kortan, FBI Asst. Director Office of Public Relations. The guy who put out the anti-Nunes memo (unofficial FBI official statement). Kortan coincidentally *quit* same day as Laufman (DOJ). https://t.co/314oH1ITdk

{{{{snicker}}}} President Trump is going to CIA HQ tomorrow (swearing in for Gina Haspel) w/ backdrop to announce his request for DOJ investigation of prior CIA, ODNI, FBI and DOJ-NSD intelligence abuse and surveillance against him. https://t.co/9Y8QJQJWmO

Sunday, May 20, 2018

America is a Nation that believes in the power of redemption. America is a Nation that believes in second chances - and America is a Nation that believes that the best is always yet to come! #PrisonReformpic.twitter.com/Yk5UJUYgHN

The prison reform bill doesn't actually release prisoners. It moves them from prisons to halfway homes. But if the halfway homes are underfunded, there's no place for them to go. -BCJ's @Inimaihttps://t.co/EHZvRgPqt0

.@DiamondandSilk go off on Jay-Z for convincing rapper Meek Mill to be a no show for the Prison Reform Summit at the White House. The ladies hold nothing back. "Truth Boom"..... Re-Tweet Now pic.twitter.com/d4rtCCDfZo

I hereby demand, and will do so officially tomorrow, that the Department of Justice look into whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump Campaign for Political Purposes - and if any such demands or requests were made by people within the Obama Administration!

The specifics of the demand/letter from POTUS will be important. Will the president ask for a general probe? Or, will he call on DOJ to declassify and/or release certain materials on the Counter Intel process and sourcing? https://t.co/IR0reC8Ihg

“The bottom line remains: President Obama spied on the Trump campaign using wire taps, moles and spies, and James Comey’s FBI hid the fact from congress for nearly a year.” - @LarryOConnorhttps://t.co/gMP6KjnJjU

Welcome

Hi, I'm John Schutt, chairman of the Humboldt County Republican Central Committee: Want to get involved? We need republicans for open spots on the central committee, committee seats, letters to the editor writers, and more. Send me your thoughts and ideas on making Humboldt great again. Please feel free to call the office (442-2259) or leave a message here (or on Facebook) and I will get back to you as soon as possible.